Universal Hagar’s Spiritual Church
The world Father Hurley and his contemporaries lived in was very different than ours, although we are still struggling with its legacy. The United States of America was partially founded, unfortunately, on racism and slavery. The Civil War, along with pressure from the Radical Republicans (the abolitionist party), forced President Abraham Lincoln’s hand to draft the Emancipation Proclamation, which took effect on January 1, 1863. (Wormser: (a)) Though the war had to continue before the slaves began to be released, it marked the beginning of the end of the physical slavery; mental slavery, however, continues to this day. In 1875 the Civil Rights Act was passed to ensure “full and equal enjoyment”. (Wormser: (b)) In 1883 it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. (Wormser: (c)) Congress did not pass another Civil Rights bill until 1957. (Wormser: (c))These events, plus the continued racism, caused the former slaves to live in a horrible world of lynching, burning, and general unfairness. Imagine walking out your door and seeing your best friend dead, hanging in a tree, or maybe your cousin, or even your mother or father – this was a reality for African-Americans. Imagine having to bow your head low whenever a certain kind of person walked by – this was how Blacks had to respond to Whites. Imagine being told everyday that you are an animal, worthless, less than human, and not worthy to live – this was the reality of the former slaves.
Marcus Garvey, DuPont Bell, Noble Drew Ali, Wallace D. Fard, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Father Divine, Sweet Daddy Grace, Father Elias Dempsey Smith, and many other Black leaders emerged in the late 19th and early 20th century to respond to this worldview. They also took issue with the American Christian world’s apparent inability to reach out to the Black race and uplift them. It is no secret that some racist White ministers used their pulpits to preach discrimination and oppression.
A great deal of academic work has been done on all of the leaders just mentioned, however one of their most powerful, intelligent, and spiritual contemporaries is still largely unknown and ignored by scholars. This leader is Father George William Hurley….
Father Hurley was raised in the Protestant tradition. His mother, Tina Hurley, began raising him as a Methodist, but after a few years they became Baptist. At the age of seven he began to preach in the churches and challenge the ministers and was ordained at the age of 11. In 1897, at the age of 13, the Spirit of God revealed to him his great Commission. After high school he went to Tuskegee Institute and Phelps Bible Hall Training School to receive ministerial training. Dr. E. J. Penny was Phelps’ dean and Father Hurley’s ministerial instructor.
By the time he reached his early 20s, Reverend Hurley… was known, especially among southern Baptists, as a dynamic preacher and orator with a seeming special relationship with God. It was not just his ability to ‘woo’ the crowd that made him popular; it was his ability to expound on the teachings of Christ in such a way that even the more uneducated members, which were many times the majority, were able to comprehend the lessons of the Gospel.
In around 1918 or 1919 Reverend Hurley met Father Elias D. Smith, founder of the Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ, which was founded on January 20, 1904, popularly known as the Triumph Church (Triumph Church website). He was spiritually moved by Father Smith and his teachings and consequently joined. After several years, he reached the level of Elder and the presiding Prince of Michigan, but became dissatisfied with the teachings of the Triumph Church. He disagreed with the way they taught the Bible and how some of the ministers purposely lacked clarity in their explanations of the Gospel to the congregation, among other things. [This possibly could be due to the fact that the Triumph Church began moving away from its original teachings after Father Smith passed away in January 1920 while on a trip to Addis Ababa Abyssinia.] After this he briefly joined the International Spiritual Church, but again he was not completely content. So on September 23, 1923 he founded the Universal Hagar’s Spiritual Association (later changing ‘Association’ to ‘Church’).
References
Triumph Church website. “History of Triumph Church”, 19 Feb. 2004 <http://www.triumphchurch-jax2.org/history.html>.
Wormser, Richard.(a) “The Emancipation Proclamation (1863)”, 19 Feb. 2004 <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_emancipate.html>.
Wormser, Richard.(b) “Civil Rights Act (1875)”, 19 Feb. 2004 <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/ stories_events_civil.html>.
Wormser, Richard.(c) “Civil Rights Act of 1875 Declared Unconstitutional”, 19 Feb. 2004 <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_uncivil.html>.
Short excerpt from “Father Hurley as a Light Among His Contemporaries” by Rev. George Latimer-Knight, first presented at the American Academy of Religion Midwest Meeting, April 2, 2004, at the DePaul Center in Chicago, Illinois.
I emailed you several months ago, saying that I am conducting research on Father Elias Smith, Triumpy Church, etc. I had hoped you might send me copies of any historical documents that referenced the activities of both Father Hurley and smith together. Any correspondence, anything. records are so scarce. Please contact me.
Amy
WOW!! GEORGE I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE WEBSITE UNTIL I HEARD YOU MENTION IT ON PLEASENT SUNDAY 12-9-07. BUT PLEASE BE SURE THAT I WILL INFORM EVERY-1 THAT I COME IN CONTACT WITH FROM NOW ON.. I WOULD ALSO LIKE 2 SAY THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO SUCH A GREAT THING!!
Rev. Knight I’m so glad you have started something positive for my saviour of this age. We need this and more to get that million. I’m a strong believer that it will be so. So any ideas i can help you with let me know. I’m looking into somethings now. I’ll inform you about the ideas at a later date. God bless you, PEACE!
One more thing i need information on Cassie Bell Hurley. I can’t find where she was born, who her mother and father were, or anything as such. Please let me know as soon as possible. PEACE!
Your videos are an awesome tool. I am inspired by you and I hope to have an impact on people as you now have. I will pray for your mission and your work with ths website. Call on me anytime that you need me and I’ll be there for you in person or spirit. May Father Hurley continue to shine his light upon you.
can you please refer me to a Universal Hagars church location in the greater cleveland area? thats in the state of Ohio-
I have been going to the web site every sence I found out about 5 years ago and it has helped a lot I also show others the site, they are happy to find out about it! Keep up Hurley,s work !!!
Milwaukee,WI
Dear friends,
I had just recently learned about your church.The light flashed upon my mind as a lightening.My thirst was immediately excited for more information and literatures.But I began to share my new found faith.
Do you like to have people come in your church?
We like things in your website.
I began holding public meetings.
Many people occassionary carried reports to their villages.
1. Is there your church in Nairobi city?
2. Where is it located?
W
Dear friends,
I had just recently learned about your church.
The light flashed upon my mind as a lightening.My thirst was immediately excited for more information.
But, I began to share my new found Faith.
Do you like to have people to come in your church?
We like the things in your website.
I began holding public meetings.
Manny people occassionary carried reports to their villages
1. Is there your church in Nairobi city?
2. Where is it located?
3. Will church members accept us?
So, I remain looking forward to your positive response.
Sincerely
Mr. E.Mwosaka
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you down the road!
wow are people still so easily influenced as to believe in anything follow anyone , hell will surly be filled, this is a feeble attempt at controlling people who do not and have not been blessed with understanding, be lead not astray by the unwillingness to seek out the real creator, this is simply foolishness, a slaves religion at best , a means to control the blind.
I have been going to the web site every sence I found out about 5 years ago and it has helped a lot I also show others the site, they are happy to find out about it! Keep up Hurley,s work !!!
Milwaukee,WI…
ALL HAIL TO THE CHRIST WITHIN REV.LATIMER-KNIGHT.IT IS VERY GOOD AND ENLIGHTENING ON YOUR WORDS CONCERNING TIGERS’ ISSUES SPOKEN FROM A NEUTRAL POINT OF VIEW.
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After reading this article I was very much inspired by Hurley’s teaching a great deal. This website also helped me complete a project at my school. There was a lot of information that was very much useful and I am very thankful for the site and whomever started it.
Thank you Sarina. Just keep reading and studying about Father Hurley and your understanding will grow. Also, I would love to read or see the project you just completed. God bless you.